Man arrested after yelling and throwing things in front of young nephews and nieces

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In December 2023, a young man was arrested after allegedly disturbing the peace in his home and resisting arrest after his father called the cops.

Arona Amituanai is charged with the following:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance — a class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both; and,

Count 2: Resisting Arrest — a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

Bail for the defendant is set at $500.

On December 8, 2023, at about 10:00am, court documents say an anxious father contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) seeking assistance with his son who was allegedly yelling profanities and throwing things around the living room in the presence of his nephews and nieces. The father identified his son (suspect) as Arona Amituanai.

As the officers approached the dirt road leading to Mr. Niue’s (victim) home, officers reported they observed Mr. Amituanai (suspect) walking towards the police unit. When the defendant caught sight of the vehicle that was approaching, he immediately ran into his house and hid in a room.

According to the affidavit, Amituanai continued to yell out profanities and “told officers not to step foot inside his house.” However, Niue (father) requested that the officers come in and remove the suspect from the house.

Once in the house, officers called out to Amituanai and asked him to come out. Angered that the officers were in the house, he asked why they had entered his house.

Niue explained to his son that he (victim) had told the officers to come into the house. Displeased with his father’s response, Amituanai continued to yell profanities.

The affidavit further states that “officers then took down the suspect where he resisted to put his hands behind his back.”

Officers were finally able to arrest Amituanai and transport him to the TPS. And, even as he was being placed in the police unit, he was still yelling out profanities towards his father, according to the affidavit.

When interviewing the victim, he stated that “the suspect left the past week and just returned home that same day.”

Then father was upset that his son was gone for that long which is why he scolded him. It was then that his son started “yelling and throwing things around the living room while the kids were there.”

Niue tried to chase Amituanai out of the house but he refused to leave. The defendant swore at him and continued yelling profanities as he walked out of the house and onto the front road. It was once the suspect left the house that the victim called the TPS for assistance.

The defendant was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

He was booked, transported, and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) to await the next sitting of District Court.